The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon treatment.
To determine whether serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA disappearance after interferon (IFN) treatment prevents development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we evaluated retrospectively the incidence of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C. A total of 213 patients were monitored for more than 6 months after completion of IFN treatment. Sixty-three of the 213 patients (29.6%) achieved a complete response (CR) to treatment and 150 (70.4%) had no response (NR). HCC developed in 12 (5.6%), all of whom were NR. Logistic analysis showed age, alpha -fetoprotein, and staging of histological finding before IFN treatment were independent factors to development of HCC. The fact that there was no HCC development from CR provides a basis for IFN treatment in chronic HCV infection.
Miyajima
I
I
Second Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 830, Japan.
Sata
M
M
Kumashiro
R
R
Uchimura
Y
Y
Ide
T
T
Suzuki
H
H
Tanikawa
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012307:Risk Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins